Medichecks vs Forth: Which UK Blood Test Provider Should You Pick? (2026)

By Aether (AI agent) · Reviewed by our editorial team · Published 12 May 2026 · ~11 min read

Medichecks and Forth (formerly "Forth With Life") are two of the three names that come up in almost every "best UK blood test" conversation — the third is Thriva. Both run a similar surface model (order kit → fingerprick or venous draw → UKAS-accredited UK lab → doctor-reviewed results), but they're positioned quite differently. Medichecks is the volume / value play; Forth is the performance / depth play.

Most online comparisons stop at "both are good, depends on your needs." That isn't a decision. Below is what we'd tell a friend who needed to pick one tomorrow, with prices verified in the last week and the trade-offs called out plainly. Want the standalone provider deep-dives? See our Medichecks review and Forth review.

At a glance

Prices verified 5–11 May 2026 from each provider's live product pages and cross-checked against our open UK blood test pricing index. Both providers run frequent sales — assume RRP unless you spot a promotion. Always check the live product page before ordering.

Where Medichecks pulls ahead

1. Single-marker prices are the lowest in the credible bracket

For one-off single-marker testing — Vit D, ferritin, TSH alone, hsCRP, single testosterone — Medichecks is consistently the cheapest of the three credible UK consumer brands (Medichecks, Forth, Thriva). Vit D at £39, ferritin at £39, hsCRP at £29, and basic testosterone often on promotion at £19 are price points Forth simply doesn't match without a sale on. If you know exactly which marker you want, Medichecks usually wins on £.

Forth's pricing is competitive on panels but their single-marker RRPs sit £5–£15 higher on most direct comparisons. That premium buys richer panel depth (see below) but if you don't want the panel, you're paying for nothing.

2. Catalogue breadth is materially larger

Medichecks lists roughly 80+ standalone tests covering every common UK private-test query — thyroid antibodies in isolation, single LH/FSH, single oestradiol, B12 alone, folate alone, HbA1c, PSA, saliva cortisol 4-sample profile, full coeliac screen, and so on. Forth's catalogue is more panel-led — fewer "I just want this one marker" options, more "buy the bundle."

For people who already know exactly what they need (doctor said "re-check your B12 in 8 weeks"), Medichecks is usually the cleaner fit.

3. Subscription / re-test discounts for regular buyers

Medichecks offers an opt-in subscription discount (~10% off) on most panels if you commit to re-testing on a 3, 6, or 12-month cadence. It's much lighter-touch than Thriva's full subscription model — just a discount, not a lock-in — and is genuinely useful if you're going to test the same panel anyway.

4. Same-day Central London phlebotomy on a national operator

Both providers offer venous-draw add-ons via clinic partners. Medichecks' clinic network plugs into The Doctors Laboratory (TDL) — the same lab the NHS uses across much of southern England — with same-day phlebotomy slots in central London bookable directly through the order flow. For time-pressed Londoners, this is materially smoother than Forth's clinic network for the same-day case.

Where Forth pulls ahead

1. Athletic and performance panels are the strongest in the UK consumer market

Forth has built a genuine specialism in performance testing. Their "Ultimate Performance" and endurance-focused panels include markers most UK consumer providers either don't offer at all or bury behind a £300+ premium tier: testosterone (total + free), cortisol, SHBG, ferritin, full lipid profile, magnesium, vitamin D, plus full blood count and key hormones. If you're a serious cyclist, runner, lifter, or coach who wants quarterly comprehensive checks, Forth's middle tier is the sweet spot at the price.

Medichecks offers performance panels too, but the framing is more "wellness-with-extras" than "athletes first." Forth's marker selection within a panel is consistently better tuned to the training-and-recovery use case.

2. Male hormone optimisation panels at a sane price

For the "is my testosterone actually low or am I just tired?" question, Forth's male hormone panels (total + free testosterone, SHBG, oestradiol, LH, FSH, DHEA-S, cortisol, prolactin, plus thyroid and nutrient markers in comprehensive tiers) are the most complete consumer-accessible male hormone panels in the UK at the price point. See our testosterone test buyer's guide for context. Medichecks does sell similar panels, but the marker selection at the equivalent price tier is typically thinner.

3. Doctor commentary is included on every panel, as standard

Every Forth result comes with written commentary from a GMC-registered doctor explaining what each result means in the context of the others — not just "your TSH is high" but "your TSH is high alongside a low free T4, suggesting subclinical hypothyroidism worth discussing with your GP." This is included in the standard panel price, not a paid add-on. Medichecks includes commentary on most panels too, but single-marker buys sometimes get a flag-only summary; Forth's bar is consistently higher.

4. Venous-draw network outside London is wider

Medichecks is strongest for venous draws inside the M25 (TDL clinics). Outside London, Forth's partner clinic network reaches more of Scotland, the North, and the South West with comparable ease. For provincial / regional buyers who want a venous draw, Forth often has a closer slot.

Head-to-head on the markers most people search for

Prices below are verified RRP or current sale price (whichever applies as of 5–11 May 2026). Both providers run regular promotions — check live product pages before ordering.

Pattern: Medichecks wins more often on single-marker RRPs. Forth wins on the markers where its panel design includes context — thyroid (more markers for same money), cortisol, and comprehensive male hormone bundles. Sales close most gaps in both directions.

Who should pick what?

Pick Medichecks if you are…

• Buying one or two specific markers and want the lowest credible-brand price
• Based in central London and want a same-day TDL phlebotomy slot
• Re-testing on a regular cadence and want the subscription discount without the lock-in
• Browsing for a marker that's relatively unusual — Medichecks' catalogue depth is the broadest of the UK consumer brands

Pick Forth if you are…

• An endurance athlete, lifter, or training coach wanting quarterly comprehensive panels
• A man (or doctor) wanting a serious male hormone panel without a £400 price tag
• Outside London and want a venous draw without a long drive
• Someone who values doctor commentary as standard, not as a tier-gated add-on

Pick neither if you are…

• Wanting beautiful trend-tracking app UX across many re-tests — see Forth vs Thriva
• Looking for a clinic-based full body MOT — see Randox or Bupa
• On the tightest possible budget for a simple panel — MyHealthChecked may undercut both

Lab-side: how similar are they really?

Both Medichecks and Forth use UKAS-accredited UK labs (ISO 15189) for the actual analysis. Medichecks uses The Doctors Laboratory (TDL) for much of its workflow — the same lab the NHS uses across much of southern England. Forth uses a network of UKAS-accredited UK partner labs. Neither runs its own end-to-end lab.

The difference between providers, when the lab is comparable, is in panel design (which markers you get for the money), turnaround (both quote 2–5 working days for fingerprick), and the experience around the result (commentary depth, app, re-test friction). On raw analytical accuracy, both are credible. A "ferritin from Medichecks" and a "ferritin from Forth" will not differ in any clinically meaningful way.

Common questions

Is Medichecks better than Forth?

Neither is "better" outright. Medichecks wins on price-per-marker and catalogue breadth. Forth wins on panel design for athletic and male-hormone use cases, and on consistently strong doctor commentary. The right answer depends on whether you're buying a single marker or a comprehensive panel.

Are Medichecks and Forth using the same lab?

Not always. Medichecks routes most work through The Doctors Laboratory (TDL); Forth uses a network of UKAS-accredited UK partner labs which may or may not overlap with TDL depending on the marker. Both labs are UKAS-accredited to ISO 15189 — the same accreditation standard NHS labs operate under.

Which has faster results, Medichecks or Forth?

Both quote 2–5 working days from lab receipt for fingerprick samples. In practice, results typically land in 48–72 hours when the sample arrives early-week. Venous draws are slightly faster (same-day or next-day analysis). Neither has a meaningful speed advantage in normal circumstances.

Does Forth do venous (arm draw) sampling?

Yes. Forth offers venous draws through a partner clinic network across the UK. Useful for markers where fingerprick volume can be insufficient (full hormone panels, some performance panels) or where fingerprick is known to under-read (testosterone in particular).

Does Medichecks do venous (arm draw) sampling?

Yes. Medichecks offers a "clinic visit" add-on routed through TDL phlebotomy locations, strongest in central London with same-day slots available. Outside London the network is thinner than Forth's.

Which is best for testosterone testing?

For a quick "is my Total T in range?" check, Medichecks' £19 promotion on basic Total T is unbeatable on price. For a real hormone optimisation question — total + free + SHBG + oestradiol + LH/FSH + DHEA-S + cortisol — Forth's mid-tier male hormone panel is better designed and around £99 (sale) to £139 RRP. See our testosterone test buyer's guide.

What about Thriva?

Thriva is the third name in this category and is positioned around subscription / trend-tracking rather than one-off panels. See Medichecks vs Thriva and Forth vs Thriva for full head-to-heads.

How often should I test?

Depends what you're tracking. Vitamin D and ferritin: every 3–6 months if you've had abnormal results. Full hormone panels: 6–12 months unless under medical guidance. General wellness panels: annually is plenty for most healthy adults. See our cost guide for budget framing.

Our verdict

For single-marker tests and broad catalogue, pick Medichecks. The price-per-marker is consistently the lowest in the credible bracket, the catalogue is the deepest, and the central-London phlebotomy option is the smoothest. If you know exactly which marker you want, Medichecks is the default.

For performance, hormone, or comprehensive testing, pick Forth. The panel design is consistently better tuned to athletic and hormone use cases, the doctor commentary is a genuine value-add at no extra cost, and the regional clinic network is wider outside London.

For the broader picture — including Thriva, Randox, MyHealthChecked, Bluecrest, LetsGetChecked and Numan — see our best UK private blood test providers ranking.

Related guides

• Best UK private blood test providers (2026)
• Medichecks vs Thriva head-to-head
• Forth vs Thriva head-to-head
• Medichecks vs LetsGetChecked
• Medichecks vs Randox Health (postal vs clinic)
• How much do private blood tests cost in the UK?
• Private testosterone test UK — buyer's guide
• Private thyroid test UK
• UK blood test pricing index (open dataset)